A great story of a compassionate and determined girl named Fern, who rescues the runt of a litter of pigs, names him Wilbur and forms a loving relatioA great story of a compassionate and determined girl named Fern, who rescues the runt of a litter of pigs, names him Wilbur and forms a loving relationship with him, only to have to let him go when her father decides he is too big and it is time to sell him. While Fern still visits Wilbur regularly, at the farm he is sold to, he forms a new friendship, with a wonderful, nurturing spider named Charlotte, who also happens to be pretty smart, and saves him from the slaughter house, with her quick mind and super weaving skills. It is thus a beautiful story of friendship, with a real tear jerker of an ending. Love this book....more

This one I am currently sharing with the five year old, and we both eagerly anticipate what adventures and mishaps Anne is going to experience in eachThis one I am currently sharing with the five year old, and we both eagerly anticipate what adventures and mishaps Anne is going to experience in each chapter. While some of the language and the situations described are a little above her head, it really doesn't matter. The prose is so beautiful, and the character of Anne so enchanting. It is a book I read and reread several times over the course of my childhood and I am happy to return to it, all these years later and relive the magic through my daughter's eyes (and ears). Her favourite bits so far; when Anne dyed her hair green; when Matthew got all shy buying Anne the material for a puffy sleeved dress and asked for brown sugar instead and whne Anne got angry with Gilbert and hit him with her slate. ...more

Religious themes aside, it is a beautiful, magical story, that has become a classic for a good reason. While I read a lot of good children's books asReligious themes aside, it is a beautiful, magical story, that has become a classic for a good reason. While I read a lot of good children's books as a child, and since, this is just one of those truly memorable ones. I remember feeling as if I were in Narnia, the desriptions were so vivid and real. Yes, looking forward to sharing this one with the kids soon too....more

**spoiler alert** Only read this one a month or so ago and already find myself forgetting much of what actually happened. I recall it was an easy read**spoiler alert** Only read this one a month or so ago and already find myself forgetting much of what actually happened. I recall it was an easy read - plain language, uncomplicated plot, not a lot of character development from start til finish. I recall I really despised the main character Okonkwo, for his lack of compassion towards fellow human beings and his misogynist view of the world. Hard to have any empathy for a character who has no empathy for others. The event that disturbed me the most (as I am sure it was intended to) was definitely what he and other men of the village did to that poor child who was given to Okonkwo to keep under his wing, and whom had begun to call him father. That anyone could be so coldblooded as Okonkwo showed himself to be, just to demonstrate their strength to others gives me the shudders, but people do awful things in the name of keeping face all the time. I guess overall it just wasn't a book I related to, having nothing in common with the characters, nor feeling any personal connection to the situation. I did feel for the people of the village, having their world crumble around them, their autonomy taken from them, and I can understand for Okonkwo why he felt things had to end as they did - all he really had was his pride, when he no longer had that he felt he had nothing.Many of the imperialists of course were as cold as Okonkwo, seeing nothing wrong in their actions, and I saw the tragedy not so much as Okonkwo's death (like I said, I didn't like the man at all) but as the fact that the District Commissioner thought it was okay to reduce this man's entire existence to one paragraph in his new book, and of course the title of his book, the closing sentence of this novel speaks volumes. I did like how the imperialists weren't all viewed as evil though, that some of them (some of the missionaries) clearly had good intentions and I liked how Okonkwo's son and others like him, who had felt rejected, found acceptance in the new religion and ways.Sooo... after my first reading of Things Fall Apart I rate it as 2 stars, merely okay, mostly because I felt no personal connection to the story and wasn't really drawn into the lives of the characters in an emotional way....more

I remember reading the first four books back in 2001, couldn't put them down, had to know what was going to happen next. It was a pleasant surprise beI remember reading the first four books back in 2001, couldn't put them down, had to know what was going to happen next. It was a pleasant surprise because I hadn't expected to enjoy a series of children's books so much, even though I had heard the hype. After that I eagerly awaited the release of each new one, as did many others. Re-reading it reminds me why I enjoyed them so much, the humour, the characters, the magic ... This time I read it with Miss 6 and a half (she'll be waiting another year for the next one), and she was absolutely delighted, loved Harry, loved Hagrid, loved the flying motorcycle, and the all-flavoured lolly things, the wands, quidditch, loved everything about it really , except of course Quirrel, Voldemort, and the drinking of unicorn blood ("oh those poor unicorns!"). Great fun, looking forward to re-reading the rest. (Even changed my rating from a 4 to a 5 because a children's series that becomes a favourite of so many children and adults alike has got to be something pretty special really, right?)...more